Russian ground controllers have restarted the main computer aboard the space station Mir, in preparation for the craft's splashdown in the Pacific later this month.

Mir's computer is now answering commands from Earth, an essential step before the station's re-entry rockets can be fired.

The computer switched itself off on 18 January after problems with Mir's batteries, causing the space station to lose its balance. The operation to bring the platform back to Earth was postponed as a result.

One of numerous spacewalks carried out on Mir

Russian space officials say that Mir is scheduled to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere over a remote part of the South Pacific Ocean some time between 20 and 23 March.

They say the station is currently orbiting the Earth at a height of 245.6 km (147.4 miles) and is due to descend by 2.1 km (1.3 miles) on Monday.

Mir will be directed to plunge to Earth with three rocket thrusts. The first two will correct its orbit, and the third will send it into a lower orbit where it will enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up.

The station should be largely destroyed on descent but around 1,500 pieces of debris, about 20 tonnes in weight, are expected to fall into the South Pacific between New Zealand and Chile.

The space platform, launched in 1986, is being brought to Earth because Russia cannot finance its commitment both to Mir and to the 16-nation International Space Station.